magnesium-trisilicate and Urinary-Calculi

Topics: Adult; Antacids; Female; Humans; Magnesium; Magnesium Silicates; Silicic Acid; Silicon; Urinary Calculi

Twenty cases of silica stones (including a personal one, the first case ever observed--April 1952) are reviewed. Almost all of the patients had been taking magnesium trisilicate for several years, one up to 40 years. The average age of the patients was 54 years. There were 9 males and 1 female. The patients came from the following locations, given in chronological order: Beirut, Lebanon (1952); Stockholm, Sweden (1953, 1962); Houston, Tex., USA (1958, 1961); New York, N.Y., USA (1960); Johannesburg, South Africa (1964); London, UK (1973, 1982); Osaka, Japan (1978); Madrid, Spain (1978, 1981); and Torrance, Calif., USA (1984). 14 patients passed out the stones spontaneously. In 3 patients, the stone was formed in the left kidney. Bilateral renal stones were found in 2 patients. In 2 patients, they were removed from the left ureter and in 2 patients they were found in the bladder. The size of the stones varied between 2 mm and 3 cm, the weight from 8 mg to 3.6 g. The silica stone is of a relatively low radio density. Our case is the only one in whom the level of urinary silica was determined; it was of the order of 0.006% i.e. 1 mmol/l.

Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Antacids; Female; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Magnesium; Magnesium Silicates; Male; Middle Aged; Sex Factors; Silicic Acid; Silicon Dioxide; Urinary Calculi

The occurrence of silicon dioxide in human urinary calculi is more common than generally believed. During a 3 year study we have analyzed about 750 human urinary calculi using the scanning electron microscope and x-ray crystallographic methods. Silicon dioxide of the alpha quartz variety was found to be the principal constituent in calculi from 5 male patients. Some of the patients were recurrent stone formers and 1 patient has previously produced a silicon dioxide calculus. In none of the 5 cases was there any history of gastric disorders or of any ingestion of antacids in the form of magnesium trisilicate. Some of the silica particles have a morphology typical of glacial sand.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antacids; Humans; Magnesium; Magnesium Silicates; Male; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Middle Aged; Silicic Acid; Silicon Dioxide; Urinary Calculi; X-Ray Diffraction

Topics: Administration, Oral; Humans; Magnesium Silicates; Silicon Dioxide; Urinary Calculi